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Brooklyn Letters IconBrooklyn Letters

1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn

4.9 56 reviews

  • Avatar Emily Matles ★★★★★ a week ago
    We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
    ~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old
  • Avatar T Ainsley ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
  • Avatar Natalie Levon ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
  • Avatar Colin Peters ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
  • Avatar Lil Amatore ★★★★★ 7 months ago
    Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
  • Avatar Heather Liljengren ★★★★★ a year ago
    We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
  • Avatar Brigid Bower ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
  • Avatar Duygu Başaran ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Brooklyn Letters was recommended to me through a friend's speech therapist friend in NJ. The articulation evaluation for my daughter went well. We were pleased with Kristin's services.
  • Avatar Kelley Peters-Patel ★★★★★ a year ago
    Melissa was wonderful. Our daughter warmed to her immediately and by the time she left, had already started "practicing" some of the techniques Melissa had shown her. I will not hesitate at all to reach out to Melissa again, should … More the need arise.
  • Avatar R Elmore ★★★★★ a year ago
    Aileen was INCREDIBLY helpful to us, both in assessing possible origins of my grandson's food aversions, as well as informing us of various available interventions to consider.
    I can’t thank you and Brooklyn Letters enough for connecting
    … More us with Aileen. In all our feeding therapy journey we have not gotten anything near the kind of benefit that we did from her. Her knowledge, professionalism, and responsiveness have put us on the path of progress with my grandson and has also made us feel genuinely well cared for.
  • Avatar Christine Weiher ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    We were amazed with Allison! She met my son at 2 1/2 years old, not speaking much at all, and over a computer, and she was able to develop a bond and friendship, so much so that he would look forward to his weekly computer time with Allison. … More I was not sure how the speech therapy would go- but we are so happy that we tried it out and continued. It allowed my son to gain confidence in his speech, make a new friend :), and also give him the skills and a bit of understanding of how to shape his mouth or where to place his tongue to make the proper sounds. We were extremely happy with Allison- she was fantastic to work with.
  • Avatar Andrea Saffady ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    My sessions with Karen have been extremely helpful. My speech has improved tremendously. In fact, I just finished 2 hours of conducting interviews with a consulting client via MS Teams and I have an upcoming conference call. Both my … More neurologist and neurosurgeon remarked about how good my speech is. Much of the day it is perfect, although I still have some rough spots when I get tired or speak too quickly. One of my granddaughters is a speech pathology student at Ithaca College. She sat in on 2 sessions while she was home for winter break, and she was very impressed with Karen.
  • Avatar Jacob B ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We were delighted with Christie. First, and most importantly, our son made great strides under her guidance. So great, that we felt he no longer needed help! She was incredibly patient and kind with him and our son really responded to … More her. Christie was also great with me and my wife. She provided thorough and informative updates on our son's progress and which exercises she was using with him, so we could reinforce what she was teaching him. All in all, we had a fabulous experience with Christie and would highly recommend her.
  • Avatar Jessica C ★★★★★ a year ago
    Theo was wonderful and his work with my son has produced some progress. I am grateful for the services Theo provided.
  • Avatar Melissa Stevens ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    Highly recommend Jill. She is a total pleasure to work with. After a few months working with Jill, my son is reading above grade level and LOVES to read. Mission accomplished!
  • Avatar Demet Evren ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    Paige was great and we had been really happy with her. I would highly recommend her! I recommend Brooklyn Letters to whomever asks for a speech therapist.
  • Avatar Jeizel Rosenthal ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    Isabel was WONDERFUL and our son absolutely adored her, and he is making great progress with his reading and writing.
  • Avatar Lesley Duval ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Theo was fantastic with our 4yo son. We were very worried that his progress would fall off when we had to switch to remote sessions, but Theo kept our son happy and engaged through the screen. Highly highly recommend!
  • Avatar Samantha Packard ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    We've been working with Theo from Brooklyn Letters for close to 4 months now and the results are apparent; our daughter has vastly improved her speech in a relatively short amount of time. We make "Theo Day" a celebration … More in our house with pancakes for breakfast, and the enthusiasm is matched in the sessions. Theo is fun, patient, professional, and caring, and he gives us the tools to take the lessons beyond the session. Thank you Theo, and Brooklyn Letters, for helping our daughter express herself.
  • Avatar Travis Ricca ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    I worked with Alina to enhance my pronunciation, tone, and pacing while communicating socially and in a work environment. She was great to work with and clear about goals and learning objectives. The improvement from day 1 has been tremendous! … More
  • Avatar Enrico Bermudez ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Cathy has been excellent with us and our son. We will sorely miss her. He has improved significantly with Cathy’s help. Cathy was a true partner with us, especially as we pursued additional help through our son’s school system.
  • Avatar Kayne Elisabeth Wilk ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We really loved working with Alina, she is so fantastic. Patient yet firm, and determined the best course of action very clearly and succintly for us. And it all transitioned so well to Zoom as well. I will definitely be back in touch for … More services for our other child after summer break!
  • Avatar Jen S ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Vera was amazing! My 11 yo daughter made progress so quickly and really looked forward to her sessions. She was kept motivated and engaged.
  • Avatar susie tofte ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    The work that Allison P. did with our daughter over the years has been invaluable to us. Our daughter had such a good relationship with Allison, and it allowed them to work really well together - even remotely these past 6 months. This … More year, Allison went above and beyond by helping us throughout the neuropsych eval we did, trying to re-open our daughter's IEP at her school, and eventually landing her at our chosen school. She was in contact with our daughter's teachers, with the neuropsychologist, and made herself available as a reference to speak on behalf of our daughter's learning differences.
    Allison stopped by our house last week to give our daughter cupcakes and say goodbye, and I literally cried with appreciation for what an amazing speech therapist she has been. She has been our daughter's biggest champion. The new families that she will work with this year are lucky to have her.
  • Avatar Alicia Perez-Katz ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Sydney was great! Our son was sad to end his sessions with her, which says a lot. We appreciated her honest assessment of his skill level, and he now has materials to self monitor and practice. Thank you!
  • Avatar Kristin Ames ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Our experience with Theo was terrific. Theo was great with my son. He developed a positive relationship with him based on sincerity, respect, trust and a deep personal connection. In their lessons, Theo was encouraging, creative and kind. … More He helped our son understand how to differentiate the sounds he made when he spoke, and gave him great exercises to practice every week between lessons. Our son was sorry to have the lessons come to an end, but recognized that Theo had helped him as much as possible and it was time for him to stop. Theo explained to him (and us) how to keep working to get the last 5%, and encouraged him to keep working on the exercises on his own. I have recommended Theo to another parent who noticed my son's improvement and inquired for her own son.
    We are all grateful to have gotten to know Theo, and we greatly appreciate all the work he did to help our son.
  • Avatar Aisha Holder ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    "I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Michelle Macroy-Higgins. We are extremely pleased with her work with our daughter. I was so grateful for my daughter to have a speech therapist who is a researcher (specialty in late … More talkers), graduate professor and practitioner. Her expertise was clearly evident in our conversations and work with our daughter. She was very responsive to my questions and often sent articles and other materials about language development that I found helpful. Thankfully, my daughter's speech improved tremendously. Michelle developed such a warm relationship with my daughter. My daughter was always excited to see Michelle and would greet her at the door with a big hug. Lastly, I would add that Michelle always demonstrated empathy with me as a mother who was initially worried about her daughter's language development. I could go on and on about how pleased we were with Michelle's work."
  • Avatar Andrea Peartree ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Theo is a wonderful Clinton Hill speech therapist. We were really pleased with him. Our son showed drastic improvement, not only in his speech but in his confidence.
  • Avatar mario costa ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Alexa has been an enthusiastic, reliable, well prepared and caring teacher for our 6 year old daughter. She has been able to improve and increase our daughter's confidence lesson by lesson with patience and competence; through varied … More and productive didactic practice. Alexa has engaged our daughter in several activities that always kept her motivated and eager to learn literacy. My wife and I, both of us are educators, feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe Alexa's pedagogical skills. Alexa has had a big impact on our daughter literacy growth. Thank you Brooklyn Letters!
  • Avatar Lily Alt ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We were absolutely DELIGHTED with Marsha's services. She was wonderful. We found her to be kind, fun, engaging, very knowledgeable. She provided us with clear instructions and additional written handouts each week. She engaged our … More son with different techniques and toys, and showed us how to use her techniques when we were interacting with him. I actually just texted her on Saturday - Our son finally said "more" - one of the target words we had been working on with her. It was a total joy to hear, and I had to share it with her - she wrote back immediately to congratulate us. I am so appreciative of her expertise, and wish we could have seen her for longer. I recommended her to another family in our neighborhood who is looking for a speech therapist.

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Best 1:1 Literacy Tutors in Staten Island, NYC

Literacy Services Staten Island in New YORK

1:1 Staten Island Literacy Tutors

Literacy Services Staten Island in New YORK
As Featured In:

Our Literacy Tutors Travel To Your Staten Island, New York City Home! Best 1:1 At-Home Literacy Tutoring Services | Free Consultations and Meet & Greets with Our Staff.

Many children face literacy challenges, including difficulty with phonemic awareness, decoding strategies, reading comprehension, and writing mechanics. These struggles may stem from dyslexia, weak sight word recognition, spelling (encoding) difficulties, or limited reading fluency. Without targeted intervention, literacy gaps can widen over time and affect overall academic performance.

Our expert literacy tutors use structured, research-based methods such as Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, Fundations, and Handwriting Without Tears to help students overcome these challenges and build lasting skills. From early literacy foundations to advanced reading comprehension and writing development, we empower students with the tools and confidence they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Serving Staten Island, NYC Neighborhoods

Our in-home tutoring and remote literacy services are available throughout Staten Island, making high-quality literacy support accessible and convenient. We serve families across Annadale, Arden Heights, Bay Terrace, Charleston, Dongan Hills, Eltingville, Great Kills, Huguenot, Lighthouse Hill, Mid Island, New Dorp, New Springville, North Shore, Oakwood, Pleasant Plains, Port Richmond, Prince’s Bay, Emerson Hill, Richmond Town, Richmond Valley, Rossville, South Beach, South Shore, St. George, Stapleton, Todt Hill, Tottenville, West Brighton, Westerleigh, Willowbrook, Woodrow, and surrounding neighborhoods.

No matter where you are on Staten Island, our local tutors bring structured literacy instruction directly to your home—or provide flexible online sessions to fit your schedule.

Why Choose Staten Island Letters?

Brooklyn Letters opened in 2010, and to better serve families in Staten Island, NYC, we created a sister website, Staten Island Letters. We offer in-home and online speech-language therapy, literacy tutoring, math support, and SEIT services delivered by a highly trained Staten Island team.

Here are six reasons families choose us for literacy tutoring:

  1. Personalized Learning Plans: Each student receives a customized literacy program targeting specific needs—whether in early literacy development, reading comprehension, or writing mechanics. We meet students where they are and build forward with clear, measurable goals.
  2. Engaging, Multisensory Instruction: Learning should be motivating. Our tutors incorporate hands-on activities, structured literacy techniques, and interactive strategies to keep students actively engaged.
  3. Proven Teaching Methods: We use research-backed programs such as Orton-Gillingham and Wilson Reading System, along with Fundations and Handwriting Without Tears. These structured approaches are especially effective for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences.
  4. Flexible In-Home and Online Options: We provide both in-home literacy tutoring in Staten Island and remote sessions, offering convenience without compromising instructional quality.
  5. Specialized Support for Neurodiverse Learners: Our tutors have experience working with students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences. Instruction is structured, explicit, and paced to match each learner’s profile.
  6. Free Initial Consultation: We offer complimentary consultations and remote meet-and-greets to discuss your child’s needs and outline the next steps.

Where Do We Begin: At-Home and Remote Evaluations

Our Staten Island literacy services begin with a comprehensive educational assessment conducted either in your home or remotely. This evaluation identifies strengths, gaps, and specific skill deficits in reading, spelling, fluency, and writing. Based on the results, we create a targeted literacy plan designed to accelerate growth and build long-term academic confidence.

Training/Certifications

TESTIMONIALS

We were happy with Michelle’s services.
Alara had a good year overall – her organizational skills improved and she showed nice progress in reading and writing. Michelle and her teachers were a key part in helping to make this happen, so much appreciated.

Michelle worked very well with Alara and we appreciate it!

Mark S.

An advocate for special needs children through and through, and amazing in her dedication and practice.
Cassie is a reading specialist who has worked one on one with our 6-year-old son for the last 9 months (Aug 2016-May 2017). Our son brings challenging avoidance behaviors and impulsivity to their sessions. Cassie uses the Orton-Gillingham approach and improvises with clever multi-sensory ideas to engage him. Through practice, she learned that if she uses gentle squeezes on his arm corresponding to syllables/letter sounds, it allows him to stay engaged. She is always very flexible, while firm, and creative in adjusting or rearranging tasks based on his needs and attention level. She makes a point of creating success for her students and having the session ended on a positive note. He has made incredible progress in his phonology and reading, which he then applies in school, using the specific tools Cassie has taught him. He loves reading and is very proud of his skills. She has provided detailed reports after each session, along with strategies and activities to practice. She is an advocate for special needs children through and through, and amazing in her dedication and practice.

Emily, mother

Rachel has been an amazing tutor for my daughter
She established a close relationship with her and helped her to jump several reading levels. Thanks to Rachel, my daughter is now a confident reader! I am very happy that I reached out to you and I will certainly recommend Long Island Letters in the future.

Joseph, father

We are very lucky
Our son, Logan, has been working with Cathy for just over a year now. Logan’s twin sister, Audrey, has had the pleasure of Cathy’s care for a slightly shorter time than that. Through the last year, we have noticed a definite improvement in all areas of the twin’s communication skills including verbal comprehensibility, aural comprehension, and overall learning skills including reading. Some of this can be marked back to inherent developmental growth and change in schools, but a large part we believe to be due to Cathy’s good work. The twins worked with another SLP for years and, although a wonderful person and therapist in her own right, her play-based approach often made improvement in the kids hard to gauge. Cathy’s approach is much more traditionally pedagogic and started with her conducting many diagnostic tests to get a clearer baseline to read/picture of the kid’s abilities and issues. From there, she developed a very well-reasoned course of therapy for both Audrey and Logan and they continue to benefit from Cathy’s skills and experience. Beyond her obvious professional expertise, Cathy has proven to be a kind and caring therapist and has extended herself when asked to participate in team meetings with our son’s school. Cathy has also referred us most recently to an OT that we are beyond happy with, further proving her commitment to the overall well-being of her students.
In summary, we consider ourselves very lucky to be working with an SLP of Cathy’s professional expertise and personal quality.

Toni & Tim
Check out other testimonials

What is Literacy and Why is it Important?

Literacy is the foundation of academic success. It encompasses the ability to read, write, comprehend, and communicate effectively. Strong literacy skills allow students to access all subject areas—math word problems, science texts, social studies assignments, and beyond.

When literacy skills are underdeveloped, students may struggle to keep up with grade-level expectations. Early and structured intervention can prevent frustration, strengthen academic independence, and foster lifelong learning habits.

Key Components of Literacy Development

Our 1:1 literacy tutoring sessions target essential building blocks of reading and writing:

  • Phonemic Awareness: Understanding and manipulating individual sounds in spoken language.
  • Decoding Strategies: Applying phonics rules to read unfamiliar words accurately.
  • Encoding (Spelling): Translating sounds into written words using structured spelling patterns.
  • Reading Fluency: Improving speed, accuracy, and expression while reading.
  • Handwriting Mechanics: Strengthening letter formation and written legibility.
  • Writing Skills: Developing clear sentence structure, paragraph organization, and idea development.
  • Grammar, Punctuation, and Vocabulary: Enhancing overall communication clarity and academic writing skills.

Stages of Literacy from Preschool to Elementary

Literacy Services Staten Island in New YORK

Literacy development progresses in stages:

  • Preschool: Recognizing letters, identifying sounds, and building phonemic awareness foundations.
  • Kindergarten: Beginning phonics instruction and early decoding of simple texts.
  • Early Elementary: Strengthening reading fluency, comprehension, and foundational writing skills.
  • Upper Elementary: Expanding vocabulary, deepening comprehension strategies, and developing structured paragraph writing.

Who Needs a 1:1 Literacy Tutor?

1:1 literacy tutoring can be highly beneficial for students who:

  • Struggle with phonemic awareness, decoding, or reading fluency.
  • Have been diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, or other language-based learning differences.
  • Are falling behind in classroom reading and writing expectations.
  • Need early intervention to build strong foundational skills.
  • Require structured literacy intervention tailored to their unique learning profile.

If your child is showing signs of literacy frustration or academic avoidance, early, structured support can make a significant difference. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and explore in-home literacy tutoring in Staten Island.

With over 20 years of experience in New York City, Craig Selinger is a New York State–licensed speech-language therapist and educational specialist who serves as the CEO of Brooklyn Letters. His expertise is rooted in academic training in Communicative Disorders and a long-standing specialization in childhood development and language-based learning differences.

Craig’s professional journey includes extensive work in both school and home settings. He is known for building long-term, collaborative relationships with clients across a wide range of ages and developmental profiles. His flexible, individualized approach is designed to meet each learner’s unique needs—making him a trusted resource for families seeking meaningful academic and literacy progress.

Under Craig’s leadership, Brooklyn Letters has become a respected provider of speech-language therapy, multisensory literacy, and math services across the NYC metro area. His work has been recognized widely, and he has presented at leading conferences and institutions including the Everyone Reading Conference, Mount Sinai Health System, NYU Langone Health, and Bard High School Early College Queens. He is also closely associated with the YMCA of Greater New York and the Educational Alliance—affiliations that further underscore his credibility in literacy and learning services.

Craig has been interviewed by NBC News, The Atlantic, New York Magazine, and PIX 11 News. Brooklyn Letters has been mentioned by the New York Times and Yahoo.com. His research has been published in the Journal of Brain Research, and his insights have been featured in outlets including Healthline, NYMetro Parents, Momtastic, Psych Central, and About.com.

In response to the educational challenges posed by the pandemic, Craig hosted the Craig Selinger Podcast, interviewing experts in education, therapy, and medicine. These conversations further reflect his ongoing commitment to helping students and families navigate learning and literacy needs with practical, research-informed guidance.

Free Intake Process

  • Initial Contact and Consultation: Contact us via email, text, or phone—we respond seven days a week. We’ll schedule a phone call within one business day. Before making recommendations, we review prior reports, evaluations, and report cards to understand your child’s learning profile and your family’s goals.
  • Initial and Customized Assessments: Families may choose comprehensive at-home or remote literacy and math assessments to pinpoint strengths and areas for growth. These results help us tailor instruction for efficient, measurable progress. Our speech-language pathologists also offer comprehensive evaluations for all ages.
  • Choosing the Right Fit: We learn about your needs and match you with the best-fit specialist from our selective team. You’ll receive detailed tutor profiles, and all team members offer free remote meet-and-greets so you can move forward with confidence.
  • Expert Team: 100% of our staff are dedicated literacy professionals with extensive experience supporting students with diverse learning needs, including neurodivergent learners. Our tutors target key areas such as reading comprehension, spelling, phonemic awareness, decoding/encoding, and overall literacy development. Using personalized, multisensory strategies, we align instruction with each student’s learning profile to support progress and long-term academic success.

HIPAA Encryption and Confidentiality: All reports and communications are stored in a HIPAA-encrypted email system, ensuring a high level of confidentiality. We do not release confidential information without your written consent. This protects your privacy and keeps your child’s information secure.

Impact of Literacy on Academic Success

Literacy Services Staten Island in New YORK

Strong literacy skills support academic success across every subject. Reading comprehension and written expression are foundational to learning in math, science, history, and more. When students build reading fluency, expand vocabulary, and strengthen writing skills, they’re better equipped to engage with coursework and demonstrate what they know.

Literacy tutoring improves reading and writing skills while also boosting confidence. With consistent 1:1 support, students become more independent learners and are better prepared to reach their full academic potential.

The Role of Tutors in Improving Literacy Skills

Our literacy tutors support meaningful progress by providing:

  • Personalized Learning Plans: Instruction tailored to each student’s strengths, needs, and learning style.
  • One-on-One Support: Focused attention that targets specific skill gaps and builds mastery.
  • Engaging, Multisensory Instruction: Hands-on methods that help students connect sounds, letters, and meaning.
  • Ongoing Progress Monitoring: Regular feedback and data-driven adjustments to keep instruction effective.
  • Academic Support: Help meeting school expectations while strengthening critical thinking and study habits.
  • Confidence Building: Encouragement that helps students take on challenges and celebrate progress.

Getting Started with Staten Island Letters

Ready to support your child’s literacy growth? Contact us today to schedule a free consultation or a remote meet-and-greet. We’ll learn about your child’s needs and build a clear plan that supports academic progress and confidence—at home or online.

With customized, structured literacy tutoring and support for neurodiverse learners, Staten Island Letters provides 1:1 literacy services for children of all ages. Whether your child needs help with reading comprehension, writing mechanics, spelling, or phonics instruction, we’re here to help them move forward with stronger skills and greater confidence.

MEET OUR STATEN ISLAND LITERACY TUTORS WHO TRAVEL TO YOUR HOME

MEGAN

Megan S.

NYS Certified Educator with Master’s in Special Education/Childhood Education & Certification in Orton-Gillingham; Director of Roots Learning Center

Christine

Christine G.

Handwriting Specialist and an Occupational Therapist

agata m

Agata M.

M.S. ED., NYS Certified Early Childhood Education & Students with Disabilities (Birth-Grade 2)

Kaitlyn R e1729670102119

Kaitlyn R.

Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6), Master’s Degree in Special Education (Grade 1- Grade 6)

Call: (347) 394-3485,
Text: (917) 426-8880

Email: [email protected]
(we respond to email right away!) 

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